Since I've been gone...

...or since I've been home...(depending on how you look at it)

The transition home has gone well so far. I have re-connected with several friends here, kept in touch with many friends there, and find myself (pretty much) settled in to my room here at home. The cat has finally forgiven me for leaving her all this time, so I am back in her good graces. I'd show you a picture, but....well...she's not so patient with the picture taking. The dog, of course, welcomed me home right away - and didn't care at all about pictures...

It is also fun to be back in my home church, although I am still experiencing a little bit of western-mega-church-reverse-culture shock. Whew - I wasn't expecting that....its funny the things that seem so different. And I wasn't even gone that long!

My Dad's cousin paid us a surprise visit - bringing us a home-cooked meal one night. It was great to see her - and to have her around on Valentine's Day. Here we are..

And this weekend, my sister and family came to visit. I haven't seen them since I left for Israel - so it was nice to spend some time together and get caught up. My nieces have grown SO much! Take a look.... :)

Since I have returned home, I have seen the countless reasons why my decision was a good one. There are so many unknowns right now, and so many ways I can help just by being here. Already, my dad can now commit to go back to work a little (he had taken leave as the result of my mom's last surgery), and I can help with caring for my grandmother (she is 94 and lives with us). Also, my mom's health is so volatile right now. Just this week, sharp chest pains sent her to the emergency room, where she ended up staying overnight so they could monitor her heart. The reports came back clean (amen!) and so now we continue with the radiation treatments for her head. You just never know what each day is going to bring...so I am glad to be here.

Dr. Pepper cake and Pizza

I just love my friends. Several of the girls came over last night. Cyndi and Ruth made Dr. Pepper cake (yum!) and brought all the toppings to make pizzas. Aubrey made a ton of individual pizza doughs, and everyone got to express themself making their favorite combination. It was fun. I didn't take the camera out until several people had already left :(

I am always forgetting to document these things! But here are a few shots...

Shabbat Dinner

One of the things I will miss the most are our Shabbat dinners! Every Friday night at our apartment we have dinner with all our friends. It is such a wonderful time together!

This Shabbat dinner was special, as it was my last one in this apartment. Also, some friends from SC who recently moved to Haifa were in town so they joined us - what a blessing!

A change in plans...

I have been busy here in Jerusalem. I love my studies here, working on Hebrew, and traveling throughout the land. It has been great to spend some time here in between semesters, living off-campus and feeling more like an everyday resident. I truly love this place.

As thankful as I am for my time here, my plan to stay in Jerusalem until May has now changed. Due to a recent change in my mother’s health condition – I have decided to go home and be with family until further notice.

There is no way to predict how this will end. The doctor’s have given us the “3-6 months left” speech, but we have heard these words before. While on the one hand, we take it very seriously, on the other, we have seen miracles. Regardless, now is the time to be at home and with family. Whatever happens, we will be together. I could make a list of all the ways I see His hand in every detail as we navigate this difficult time, but I would be here all day! Praise Him that His promises are unwavering. Praise Him that He never abandons us. Praise Him that we can trust the end result will be to His glory.

Shalom!

Snowy Jerusalem!

We were really excited this morning to wake up to snow falling in Jerusalem. We have been told it only happens every few years, so we are blessed it decided to fall while we are here. What fun!

It was quite a trek to school though. We aren't exactly equipped with the shoes and clothes for this kind of weather. I practically brought and entire change of clothes with me---and was so happy I did. The snow/slush was ankle deep in most places! And drivers here....lets just say they aren't used to snow....and they don't slow down - so often walkers get showered with walls of water when they go speeding past. Ugh.

It was all worth it though - to see snow in this beautiful city. Here are some pics!

Looking up towards Jaffa gate from school....

The Temple Mount...

The Western Wall... More of the Old City... Campus...

Meet Mr. Mouse

Yesterday morning we had a visitor. A large mouse came strolling down the hall as if he owned the place. He looked really well fed and not too worried about us. Hmmmm....not sure how I feel about that.

Anyhoo, Vernon caught the little guy without much trouble. We put him out by the dumpster---where there are plenty of good eats---if he can survive the competition. This country is swarming with stray cats. (I love cats, mind you - but these aren't the ones you can pet or play with. Ew.)

Of course we had to document the capture.

Hebrew, Hebrew and more Hebrew...

Ahhhh......2008. It has started off well. Earlier this month, six of us began a three-week intensive Hebrew class. The classes are held in our apartment, which is great. It's four hours a day, plus homework...so in a way---its been like trying to drink from a firehose---but the teaching format is so great --- it is actually working! It's all in Hebrew (okay, 90%), which wears out my little brain (and causes many after-class naps) but I feel like I FINALLY have a basis to learn this language....both Biblical and modern. This is our last week of class. It's bittersweet...I couldn't keep up this pace much longer, but I want to keep building on what I have already learned! It's great that my roommates are all in the class, so we can practice things we have learned around the house. Here are some pics of us acting out some dialog from the book of Jonah.

Next week regular classes at JUC begin again. It will be fun to meet all the new students!. I also look forward to my classes this semester. Here's the plan:

Cultural Backgrounds of the Bible

Historical Geography of the Bible

History of the Church in the East

Jewish Thought and Practice

Political and Social Setting in the Modern Middle East

I am also (ambitiously) thinking I can continue in a Hebrew class two nights a week...we'll see. :)

When we aren't working on Hebrew, my roommates and I have spent our time cooking, hosting Shabbat dinners on Friday nights (what fun!) and learning our way around the neighborhood (best places to shop, etc). Groceries here are EXPENSIVE, and we have found that our best bet is the Shouk (a.k.a. crazy Middle Eastern outdoor market). Its about a 45 minute walk, but sometimes we get lucky and get a ride with someone. It is truly an experience to shop there. It can be SO crowded (especially just before Shabbat), noisy, and hard to navigate. And with the language barrier....well....let's just say things can be 2 to 3 times more expensive if you can't speak Hebrew...know what I mean??? Here are some pics...(they don't quite do it justice-its too hard to take pics on a crowded day--but you get the idea).

When I actually start thinking about the way we live here...all the crazy appliances, little or no heat, waiting for hot water to shower, shopping at the shouk, walking everywhere we go...wow----It's crazy the things that have become normal to me. Reminds me of how much my life has changed this past year. What a blessing to have this experience!